The Use of Semantic Differential Scaling to Define the Multi-Dimensional Representation of Odors.

The mental representation elicited by smelling an odor often consists of multiple sensory and affective dimensions, yet, the richness of this elaboration is difficult to capture using methods to rate the intensity of these factors in isolation. Attempts to use language descriptors for olfactory experience have also been shown to be rather limited; among non-specialists, there is no universally accepted system for describing odors, leading to greater reliance on specific item associations. In this study we explored the utility of semantic differential scaling for illustrating the various dimensions of olfactory experience.